Published 6:02 pm, Monday, August 9, 2010

Just moments after Jessica Nichols, 23, formerly of Stratford, appeared before a judge in the Golden Hill Street courthouse, family members of Daron Green were calling her a liar for claiming he sexually assaulted her.

"My uncle never was...a rapist,' said Marquesha McIntosh, Green's niece. "What she is saying is a lie."

McIntosh and other family members, including Green's 17-year-old daughter, said the pair had been together in Green's home.

Green was found shot to death June 22 at the intersection of Denver Avenue and Denver Court. Police said a witness saw a car pull up to the intersection and a man get out of the car. After it pulled away -- with a woman behind the wheel -- Green's bleeding body was found lying next to the curb.

He's the city's 11th homicide this year.

Police developed information to obtain a warrant for Nichols' arrest Friday on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Emons granted Assistant State's Attorney Marc Durso's recommendation that Nichols be detained on $1 million bond while her case is transferred to the Main Street courthouse. The judge set Aug. 31 as her next appearance there.

Police said Nichols accused Green of breaking into her home and sexually assaulting her in February.

She told them she did not report the crime because she feared it might impact her Accelerated Rehabilitation program which, if successfully completed, could result in the dismissal of pending criminal cases.

Court records disclose that Nichols was arrested in August 2009 on charges of credit card fraud and third-degree larceny. Those cases have been continued to June 30, 2011.

Nichols was described in court as a Bassick High School graduate who has been employed for four months.

McIntosh said she was present in Green's home when he came out of a shower. She said she saw Nichols sitting on his bed.

"While he was getting dressed, she's sitting on his bed," McIntosh said, adding this occurred after the alleged sexual assault in February.

Several members of Nichols's family who appeared in court declined to comment following the proceedings.

They were led out of the courthouse past Green's family by judicial marshals.

There were no incidents or verbal exchanges between the two families outside.